SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &C.
Geranium, pedunculis multifloris, foliis obtusis inciso-dentatis, inferioribus ternatis, superioribus trilobis, caule erecto.
Geranium, with many-flowered peduncles, obtuse gash-dentated leaves, the inferior ones ternate, the superior three-lobed, and an erect stem.
Geranium (trifolium) caule herbaceo crasso ramoso, foliis radicalibus ternatis lobatis, caulinis oppositis simplicibus lobatis, petalis venosis, superioribus maculatis. Cav. Diss. 4. p. 223. tab. 97. fig. 3.
Erodium hymenodes. L’Herit. Geran. tab. 4.
Erodium hymenodes. Willd. Spec. Pl. 3. 635.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The empalement and parts of fructification.
2.The seed-bud, chives and pointal magnified.
3.The seed-bud and pointals.
4. The same magnified
The ternate-leaved Geranium belongs to L’Heritier’s genus Erodium. It is a native of mountainous, rocky situations, in the northern parts of Africa; but has been cultivated in most of our best collections of exotics several seasons; yet is not so frequently met with as it deserves to be, on account of the unusual delicacy in the veining and spotting of its flowers; which, from their size and number, make a good appearance; and are produced in succession most part of the year. The plant itself is of very humble, scarcely shrubby growth; yet rises somewhat higher than the real tuberous species; to which, however, in its contracted, thickened stems, it betrays a considerable affinity. It is propagated readily by seeds, and likewise by cuttings; and stands out in the open ground in mild winters uninjured, although it is generally killed in severe ones; which renders it necessary to preserve a supply of it in the conservatory.[Pg 107]
